On Wednesday, 11 paddlers from Team China showcased their prowess as they secured berths in the knockout stage of the ITTF World Cup. Notably, Wang Chuqin and Lin Gaoyuan staged impressive comebacks from the opening day’s setbacks, securing decisive 4-0 victories.
The innovative tournament format saw 48 players divided into 16 groups for the round-robin group stage. Matches were fiercely contested over four games, with group rankings determined by win-loss ratios. The top player from each group earned a coveted spot in the knockout stage, setting the stage for intense competition.
Despite a shaky start on Monday, where world No. 1 Wang Chuqin and eighth-ranked Lin Gaoyuan settled for a 2-2 tie, the Chinese duo rallied magnificently. Wang swiftly dispatched Kirill Gerassimenko, while Lin mirrored his performance with a convincing victory over veteran Chuang Chih-Yuan from Chinese Taipei.
Reflecting on their resurgence, Wang expressed resilience in the face of adversity, labeling the initial challenges as a valuable test of character. Meanwhile, Ma Long, Liang Jingkun, and Lin Shidong emerged from the group stage unscathed, clinching victory in all eight sets. Fan Zhendong also secured a spot in the top 16 with two consecutive victories.
In the women’s category, defending champion Chen Meng displayed her prowess by defeating Indian paddler Sreeja Akula 3-1. Following the match, Chen acknowledged the diverse playing styles of the Indian team, emphasizing the importance of heightened awareness.
Joining Chen Meng in the last 16 are Sun Yingsha, Wang Manyu, Wang Yidi, and Chen Xingtong, showcasing Team China’s dominance in the women’s division. However, Kuai Man emerged as the lone Chinese player to miss out on the knockout stage, despite a commendable performance against Jeon Jihee, as an inferior point difference resulted in her elimination by the South Korean opponent.
